A systematic literature review of the preservation of medical records in the healthcare system: A global perspective

Globally, the literature has revealed that the studies on the preservation of medical records in healthcare facilities are limited. Furthermore, previous literature did not fully discuss the phenomenon of preservation of medical records; neither did they incorporate different perspectives on the problem. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to present a systematic review of preservation research to investigate the extent of preservation of medical records in the healthcare system globally. The paper adopted a framework by Xiao and Watson to guide the formulation of research questions and major themes of the study based on the gap in the literature. In line with the framework, a total of 53 research studies published between 2011 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria for the review. Based on this framework, major themes were derived from the research studies namely preservation strategies, legal and regulatory frameworks, storage mechanisms, and knowledge and skills of staff in preserving medical records. The literature revealed a lack of coordination of preservation activities as a result of the lack of a framework for the preservation of medical records in public healthcare facilities globally. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that healthcare bodies should consider adopting preservation legislations and policies that encourage the use of modern preservation strategies such as artificial intelligence, DNA storage, cloud storage, and blockchain technology. One of the implications of the study is that there is a need for a tailor-made framework that will guide the practice of preservation of medical records by healthcare staff at the global level.